Thailand Live Monday 2 Jul 2012

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Thailand Live Monday 2 July 2012

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news, national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 1 Jul 2012

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UPDATE:

Health scare follows 'fake doctors' blood test

The Nation

KALASIN: -- Kalasin provincial public health office will provide a fresh series of HIV blood tests for 148 students from Khammuang Industrial and Community Education College after it was found that fake doctors used the same needle in early tests on all the students.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....50#entry5446241

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Baht back strong but challenges remain

Achara Deboonme

The Nation

Massive flows of global funds mean day-to-day volatility still a concern

BANGKOK: -- In the 15 years since the embattled baht was floated on July 2, 1997, the economy and currency have skidded through considerable turbulence. But for sustainable strength, proper policies are required to sail the economy and baht through worse weather to firmer ground, economists say.

Full story:

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Charter court urged to drop amendment inquiry

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Three democracy advocates have called for the Constitution Court to abort this week's inquiry into charter change, arguing the high court has transgressed its authority and meddled in legislative affairs, as a result of its misinterpreting the charter.

Full story:

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UPDATE:

Backing off unity, amendment bills could prolong govt: Poll

The Nation

MP says opposition has the right to call witnesses in Charter Court case

BANGKOK ;; The government will last a four-year term if it stops pushing bills on the two controversial issues of charter change and reconciliation, according to the results of a Suan Dusit Poll opinion survey released yesterday.

Full story:

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NBTC moving ahead with regulations for digital TV

Usanee Mongkolporn

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission's broadcasting committee will consider the draft of licensing regulations for the terrestrial digital TV business as soon as possible to meet its intention to grant the first two types of digital TV licences in September.

Full story:

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EDITORIAL

Painful lessons from 1997 must not be forgotten

The Nation

Massive debt still needs to be paid off, focus on good governance maintained

BANGKOK: -- This month marks the anniversary of the change in the exchange rate regime in the aftermath of the 1997 financial crisis. After 15 years, there remains a question on whether we have learned from the crisis, which resulted in the shutdown of dozens of financial firms and massive layoffs by many companies.

Full story:

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REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Ending Thailand's impunity for real

Kavi Chongkittavorn

BANGKOK: -- After an impressive defence of Thailand's human right records in Geneva at the first cycle of universal periodic review (UPR) last October, concerned authorities from at least 30 agencies across the country are now hard at work.

Full story:

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Thais unhappy about politics

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thais are happiest when they are united in displaying their loyalty to His Majesty the King - and least happy when considering the turmoil in Parliament and quality of politicians, according to an Abac Poll released yesterday.

Around 95 per cent were happiest when they saw the country united in terms of loyalty to the monarchy; followed by - 74 per cent when they thought of the state of their health; 70 per cent when considering their mental well-being; 69 per cent thinking of their family relationships; 29 per cent said they were least happy when they thought about the political crisis in Parliament and the quality of politicians.

Meanwhile, the Dusit poll found 50 per cent believe if the Yingluck government put an end to charter changes and did not pass the reconciliation bills, it stood to complete a four-year-term.

About 45 per cent said the government should suspend charter amendment as the issue needed to be well-studied to prevent national polarisation from getting worse; 28 per cent said the issue should be dropped as it would not help solve any problems; while 26 per cent believed the charter amendment should be continued as it was an election promise.

Around 40 per cent of Dusit poll respondents believed the House should dump all reconciliation bills as they were a cause of conflict; 34 per cent said the bills should be well-studied first before being passed because they might cause deeper national rifts; while 25 per cent said the bills should be passed so the government could create national reconciliation and bring about peace.

-- The Nation 2012-07-02

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Three Senators face being disqualified

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Supreme Court's Election Cases Division will decide whether to revoke the status of an appointed Senator on Tuesday and the other two next month.

The three are Srisuk Rungwisai, Sak Korsaengruang, and Prajit Rojanapruek.

The court will rule on Srisuk case on Tuesday, Sak on August 1 and Prachit on August 14.

The Election Commission (EC), which found that Srisuk failed to exercise his voting right in the Nonthaburi by-election on January 25 2009, had asked the court to decide whether Srisuk's senatorial status must be ended.

For Sak's case, the EC found that Sak was nominated as Senator again on April 12, 2011 which is within five year after he left his previous senatorial position.

For Prajit's case, the EC found that he failed to exercise his voting right on January 11 2009 election and failed to notify reasons for his voting absence.

-- The Nation 2012-07-02

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Some universities plan to push back opening dates in 2014

Saowanee Nimpanpayungwong

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The opening of school terms at some universities in Thailand will be postponed in 2014, so it is in line with back-to-school dates in European and Asean countries, Somkid Lertpaitoon, head of the Council of University Presidents of Thailand, said yesterday.

Full story:

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Student contest to focus on regional problems

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Students nationwide have been invited to compete in a mobile application design contest focusing on three development challenges in the Southeast Asia region: human trafficking, disaster resilience and response, and deforestation and forest degradation.

USAID, the United States Agency for International Development Regional Development Mission for Asia, and King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), announced the first-ever contest at the KMUTT campus yesterday.

"The Students with Solutions 2012 mobile application contest is an opportunity for Thailand's talented university students to apply their creativity and compassion to developing innovative, mobile technology solutions to development challenges," said Kristie A. Kenney, American ambassador to Thailand. "It's exciting to bring together US and Thai organisations, businesses and universities, connecting the energy of youth with technology as a tool. That's what makes Students with Solutions a key activity for our Thai-US creative partnership," she said.

Some 200 students talked with USAID Asia implementing partners—MTV EXIT, the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC), and Lowering Emissions in Asia's Forest (LEAF) Asia—to get inspiration for putting their skills into a mobile app addressing development challenges in Thailand and the region.

Representatives from other universities in Bangkok joined the event.

The Students with Solutions 2012 mobile app design contest will focus on: human trafficking, disaster resilience and response, and deforestation and forest degradation in the region.

All university students in Thailand are eligible to enter. Teams will submit a concept paper outlining problems to be addressed and their proposed mobile application, along with a mock-up of their mobile application interface and functions by July 23, 2012.

Five finalist teams will participate in a mentoring event in Bangkok on August 18 to work with software and programme experts on their projects. The Students with Solutions 2012 contest will culminate with teams presenting a functioning prototype of their mobile application to a panel of judges in October 2012. The winning team will receive a cash award of Bt50,000, along with tablet computers.

For more information about Students for Solutions 2012 mobile application contest, visit www.facebook/USAIDAsia.

-- The Nation 2012-07-02

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Political pressure, not economic factors, behind weak baht: academic

Wichit Chaitrong

The Nation

Economists say bid to benefit exporters is at the expense of bank depositors

BANGKOK: -- The current relatively weak baht against the US dollar benefits exporters and bankers at the expense of savers, say economists, and at least one of them urges policy-makers to let the Thai currency move at a greater pace in line with economic fundamentals.

Full story:

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Japanese investors satisfied with Thai flood prevention plan: Industry Minister

OSAKA, July 2 - Japanese investors are satisfied with Thailand’s flood prevention plan and recovering economy with more investment likely in Thailand, said Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti.

Full story:

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Please note: The banks in Thailand are closed ( 2 July) for mid-year bank holiday (Audit)

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RT @AsifAAhmad: Minister Jeremy Browne will call on DPM Chalerm: tourism, law enforcement, and human rights on the agenda.

RT @AsifAAhmad: Minister Jeremy Browne will see the Thai Taekwando team in action as they prepare for #London2012.

RT @AsifAAhmad: Discussion between Thai Vice Foreign Minister and Jeremy Browne will focus on UK's engagement with ASEAN countries.

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 1,186.09, up 13.98 points /MCOT

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RT @AP: BREAKING: Chinese court says Apple to pay local company $60 million to settle iPad name dispute.

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A 93-yr old American lady pushed her wheel chair into a swimming pool and drowned at condominium in Sukhumvit, Bangkok /The Nation

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Land subsidence in Ang Thong's Pho Sa subdistrict widens, damages 13 homes; province about to announce disaster zone /MCOT

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PM refuses comment on critics' concern over Court's possibly predetermined decision on charter amendment bill /MCOT

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Bhumibol Dam able to retain over 7 billion cubic metres of water more

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Bhumbibol Dam can retain over 7 billion cubic metres more of rain waters, the chief of the dam management said Monday.

But if there are no more rainfalls upstream this year, the dam's reservoir can provide enough water for people's consumption throughout the year, said Narong Thaiprayoon, the director of the Bhumbibol Dam.

Narong said the dam is now holding 6.191 billion cubic metres of water, which is about 46 per cent of its reservoir's capacity.

He said the dam was now releasing little amount of water just to keep the downstream rivers flowing and to ensure that if country is hit by drought, there would be enough water for people's consumption throughout the year.

-- The Nation 2012-07-02

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Comm. Ministry: June inflation rises to 2.56% year-on-year; 6 month inflation up 2.95% y-o-y; annual rate to stay within 3.3-3.8% range /MCOT

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POLITICS

All sides urged to cooperate for the sake of the country

The Nation

Photo : Sakol Sandhiratne

BANGKOK: -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Monday urged all sides in the political conflict to brush aside the conflicts for now and cooperate so that the country could survive all crises.

Full story:

[Lite Beer]

Fuel prices raised by 30 satang per liter starting July 2

BANGKOK, 1 July 2012 (NNT) – PTT and Bangchak oil refineries will adjust retail prices of all kinds of fuel and biofuel up by 30 satang per liter, effective tomorrow, 2 July, from 5 a.m. onwards.

As a result of the adjustment, the new domestic oil prices will be as follows:

Benzene octane 91 – 40.05 baht

Gasohol 95 – 35.73 baht

Gasohol 91 – 33.98 baht baht

E85 – 19.98 baht

E20 – 32.08 baht

diesel - 29.83 baht

-- NNT 2012-07-02

[Lite Beer]

Sinkholes damage houses in Ang Thong

ANG THONG: -- Land subsidence in the central province of Ang Thong caused damage to nine houses though the cause of the sinkholes remains unknown.

Chatchai Yensuang, assistant district officer, on Sunday inspected the area in the provincial seat where a road and housing foundations along the road cracked and subsided. Some houses subsided to almost one metre below the road surface.

Shuan Sriwattanatham, owner of a damaged house, said she noticed cracks in her home one month ago when municipal workers were repairing the road. She added that her house started to subside quickly over the past week. It is thought that the land subsidence may be related to work undertaken on the road surface to make it higher.

However, officials cannot yet reach any conclusion as to the cause and the assistant district officer said it may also be linked to last year's devastating floods. Specialists will work on finding out the true cause, while authorities will help local residents affected by the incident.

-- The Nation 2012-07-02

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MAP TA PHUT

Residents protest at slow compensation on Sunday

File photo

RAYONG: -- Residents near Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate on Sunday submitted a letter of complaint to Rayong's governor calling for the speeding up of compensation payments following the explosion at a petrochemical factory in May.

Rayong deputy governor Warawut Pin-ngern received the letter as some 100 local residents of Map Ta Phut municipality gathered at the provincial government complex in the eastern province.

The residents urged that a change be made to the committee in charge of considering compensation payments to those affected by the explosion at a unit of Bangkok Synthetics Co (BST) as they have not yet received any compensation since the accident on May 5.

The deputy governor said he would forward the letter to the governor to find ways to help them.

The crowd then dispersed as they were satisfied with the deputy governor’s response.

Twelve people were killed in the BST explosion on May 5 while residents living around the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate were ordered to evacuate to safer areas, as a chemical leak from the plant was confirmed.

-- The Nation 2012-07-02

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Land subsidence in Ang Thong widens; province to announce disaster zone

ANG THONG, July 2 -- Land subsidence in Ang Thong's Pho Sa sub-district widened overnight, damaging 13 homes. Provincial authorities are about to announce the area a disaster zone.

Ang Thong Governor Visava Sasisamit and Ang Thong’s provincial seat district chief Somchai Anawatchakul inspected Pho Sa sub-district this morning, where subsidence occurred over the weekend.

Sinkholes had widened and 13 homes now have been damaged, as compared to nine structures yesterday. The cause of the sinkholes is being investigated.

The authorities initially believed that it may be the result of last year’s massive flood that may have eroded and carried away subsoil to the Chao Phraya River.

Gov Visava was considering proclaiming Pho Sa as a disaster zone and urged affected residents to move to stay with relatives for their safety.

He said that the authorities from agencies concerned would find the cause of the land subsidence. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-07-02

[Lite Beer]

Korkaew says red shirts have their rights to protest against Democrats

BANGKOK: -- Pheu Thai party-list MP and red-shirt leader Korkaew Pikulthong said Monday that he would not ask red-shirt people to stop opposing political activities of the Democrat Party.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa....s/#entry5447200